An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zoll

by Friedrich Kluge

Zoll (1.), m., ‘inch,’ from the equiv. MidHG. zol, m. and f., which is probably identical with MidHG. zol, m., ‘cylindrical piece, log’; comp. MidHG. îszolle, ‘icicle.’

Zoll (2.), m., ‘duty, toll, dues,’ from MidHG. and OHG. zol, m., ‘custom-house, toll, duty’; corresponding to the equiv. OSax. and AS. tol, E. toll, Du. tol, OIc. tollr. Usually regarded as borrowed from MidLat. telonium, Gr. τελώνιον, ‘custom-house, toll.’ The Ger. words are, however, in spite of the lack of a Goth. *tulls (for which môta occurs; comp. Maut), so old, and correspond so closely, that they must be regarded as of genuine Teut. origin. Zoll is connected with the root tal (appearing in zählen and Zahl), of which it is an old partic. in no- (ll from ln), and hence it signified originally ‘that which is counted.’ —

Derivative Zöllner, m., ‘collector,’ receiver of customs,’ from MidHG. zolnœre, zolner, OHG. zollanâri, zolneri, m. Corresponding to AS. tolnêre, tollêre, E. toller, Du. tollenaar, OFris. tolner, Dan. tolder; comp. OSax. tolna, ‘toll.’